Page 74

A stately, purple haired woman wearing enough gemstone loaded jewelry to wake up the greediest of vampires watched the scuffle with interest, her dark eyes with unusual slitted pupils taking it in.

Ah, she must be the dragon shifter.

My information sources said one had recently come to town.

I didn’t care about dragon shifters any more than I cared about anyone, but I didn’t appreciate the interest in her eyes as she watched Killian enter the elevator, his Family making a wall that partially blocked the sight.

When the woman swiveled looking from the closing elevator to me and the interest stayed in her eyes, I gave her my most feral of smiles.

Go away.

Apparently, the dragon shifter was not familiar with reading body language because she strolled in my direction, leaving the werewolf section she’d been standing in.

“Good evening, Elder,” she said. “I’m Gisila of the Von Faulken line.”

She’s a Von Faulken? She’s a relative of Tutu’s then.

As a large client of Tutu’s Crypta & Custodia, I’d met the fierce dragon shifter before.

“Good evening,” I said, unwilling to give her a proper greeting or exchange—there was no way she was approaching me out of harmless curiosity.

Dragon shifters were never harmless.

Unfortunately, Gisila kept on staring eagerly at me obviously expecting a name in return. “And your name is?” she finally asked.

I pushed my chair out and stood up, putting the table between us. “A mystery.” I strolled towards the elevator—where a handful of Killian’s Family had remained behind, likely to vainly attempt to follow me home.

Gisila trailed behind me. “You must be old to be able to meet Killian Drake on even ground. Unless… are you enemies?”

When I glanced back at her, she smiled at me—a gesture so perfect, sopoised, it set my teeth on edge.

She’s fishing for information. Why would a dragon shifter care about what we vampires are up to?

It was possible she had aspirations of social climbing or wished to establish a working relationship with Killian. However, she’d watched his Family with an interest that didn’t seem to match either of those goals, and she seemed hopeful I was his foe. It was most likely she was planning a move against him.

Not while I’m here.

Killian Drake could take care of himself, and he wouldn’t thank me for interfering. But I wasn’t going to tolerate anyone—a dragon shifter included—picking a fight with a Dracos in front of me.

I glanced at the remaining Drakes, who—unlike the dragon—were well versed in body language, so one of them pressed the button to call the elevator.

I stopped just short of the trio of Drakes and turned to smile at Gisila, taking care to flash my elongated fangs. “No, Killian and I are not enemies. Rather, he’s a cherished charge.”

“Charge?” Gisila repeated, her eyes wide with shock. “Killian Drake is yourcharge?”

“Indeed. Now if you’ll excuse me—oh,dotell Tutu that Considine Maledictus sends his regards,” I purred.

Right on time, the elevator dinged and opened.

I stepped inside and flicked a finger at the remaining Drakes, who fell in line stepping inside the elevator.

Before Gisila could come up with a reply, the doors shut.

“I hope your venerated leader is keeping an eye on that lizard?” I asked.

The blonde female shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “If he isn’t yet, he will now.”

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN